"UK PM Sir Keir Starmer hit back in the furious war of words with US President Donald Trump - insisting his 'initial decision' not to join attacks on Iran was right - speaking from London on Thursday. "While the region has been plunged into chaos, my focus is providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest… it means having the strength to stand firm by our values and our principles, no matter the pressure to do otherwise," he began. "The long-standing British position is that the best way forward for the regime and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran where they give up their nuclear ambitions." "Now that’s why I took the decision that the UK would not join the initial strikes on Iran by the US and Israel. Now that decision was deliberate. It was in the national interest, and I stand by it," he said. He then argued that the 'situation changed' and "Iran has now fired drones and missiles at 10 countries that did not attack them." "I can announce today that we’re sending four additional Typhoon jets to join our squadron in Qatar to strengthen our defensive operations in Qatar and across the region," he said. Asked if the so-called UK-UK 'special relationship' still existed, he insisted: "Look, the special relationship is in operation right now." It came after Trump blasted Starmer on Tuesday, suggesting he was 'no Winston Churchill' after the PM blocked the US from using its bases for the attacks on Iran. The US leader also said he was 'not happy with the UK'."